Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has said that Gary Kirsten’s reportedly leaked dressing comments after Pakistan’s 2024 T20 World Cup exit have added fuel to the fire. Gary allegedly questioned the team’s unity after their poor campaign. However, Pakistan saw an early exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup before the Super Eights, as they faced defeats against the USA and India in Group A.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Allegedly Gary Kirsten has said the Pakistan team is not a team at all, that they are looking to pull each others’ legs, there are groups created and everyone is divided, they play together but don’t do anything like playing together, the five fingers don’t combine to make a fist. It’s been said that he said that in the dressing room and that thing has come out.”
“Gary Kirsten has probably said that he didn’t say anything like that but Pakistan cricket is like a strainer. Whatever you put, it leaks from the other end. Since it’s about Pakistan cricket and a bad campaign, you are reminded of one thing – success has many fathers and failure is an orphan. It’s worked like ghee on fire,” the former India opener further added.
However, Aakash Chopra added that Harbhajan Singh has even asked Kirsten why is he stuck in the Pakistan team and that he should return as India’s head coach as well. But he added light-heartedly that the role might not be available as Gautam Gambhir has already given an interview as well.
“I have seen the clip. I am not sure how much edited or how true it is. I will only say that a player tries to give his best and even if he is unable to do well, whether it’s Haris Rauf or Virat Kohli or Steve Smith, we don’t need personal comments. Don’t target their family. It’s expected that you will be well-mannered enough that you won’t do it in front of the player. You did it digitally as well, that’s also not good. I request you with folded hands that everyone’s families should be spared. If you are heartbroken because you have invested in the team or the player, you can criticize but use the language that you can use with your family,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
